Read Novel Full CHAPTER 39 PART1
CHAPTER 39 PART1
Nanny Liao stared blankly at Xiao Yanfei, unblinking. The more she looked, the more she felt that the girl bore an uncanny resemblance to the old madam who had passed away many years ago.
Madam Yin motioned for a servant to bring over a small stool and invited Nanny Liao to sit.
Nanny Liao perched on the edge of the stool but couldn’t help glancing again at Xiao Yanfei. Just then, Madam Yin’s gentle voice broke through her thoughts: “Nanny Liao, where are my parents now? They took the water route, didn’t they?”
She had married far from home, from Jiangnan to the capital—thousands of miles apart. It had been many years since she’d seen her parents, and the longing in her heart was especially strong.
Only then did Nanny Liao return to her senses. She turned toward Madam Yin at the head of the room and replied, “Eldest Madam, the Master and Madam are indeed traveling by canal. It’s slower, but much steadier.”
“I disembarked at Linqing in Jizhou and came ahead by carriage to inform you. The Master and Madam plan to rest there for a few days, visit relatives and friends.”
“With Young Master Huan accompanying them, the journey has been smooth so far.”
The “Young Master” she spoke of was Yin Huan—the adopted son from the family clan who had been taken in as heir after Madam Yin married out.
Thinking that she’d soon be reunited with her parents, Madam Yin’s heart filled with joy. Her eyes sparkled with warmth. “And how have they been along the way? Are they well?”
“The Madam is in good health,” Nanny Liao said, but her expression tightened. She hesitated, then continued slowly, “As for the Master… he…”
Madam Yin noticed the shift in her tone and immediately grew tense. Her smile faded as she pressed urgently, “What’s wrong with my father? Nanny Liao, don’t keep anything from me!”
Nanny Liao fell silent, her gaze flickering.
Madam Yin’s face turned stern. “Nanny Liao!”
Clenching her fists, Nanny Liao finally relented. She took a deep breath and said, “Eldest Madam, the Master collapsed on the journey… He was unconscious for an entire day before he finally woke. Since then… he hasn’t quite been himself. His speech is slurred, and half his body doesn’t respond.”
“The physician said… the Master suffered a stroke.”
She let out a quiet sigh.
The Master had been well into his thirties by the time he finally had a daughter—Madam Yin. He was now past sixty, and his health had already started to decline over the past year. But he’d kept it from Madam Yin, never mentioning it in letters, always sending only good news and hiding the bad.
The journey north had gone smoothly for the most part—until about a week ago, when the Master suddenly collapsed aboard the boat. He’d had a stroke. Even now, he remained partially incoherent. That was why they had stopped in Linqing to rest.
With the Master gravely ill, the Madam had been utterly distraught. Before Nanny Liao left for the capital, Young Master Huan had repeatedly urged her not to mention the stroke—worried that the news would put Madam Yin in a difficult position.
Stroke?
Xiao Yanfei fell into thought. In traditional Chinese medicine, a zhongfeng was what modern medicine would call a stroke. Western treatment for stroke relied heavily on thrombolytics—clot-busting drugs—and required a whole array of diagnostic tools and imaging equipment to confirm and evaluate the condition.
Sigh… modern medicine really was too dependent on machines.
Even in a fully equipped hospital, there was no miracle pill one could swallow that would instantly reverse a stroke. Let alone now—when she had nothing on hand.
Here in the ancient world, it seemed that traditional Chinese medicine still offered a more reliable route for treating stroke.
“Please don’t worry, Eldest Madam,” Nanny Liao hurried to console Madam Yin. “The Master has already been given medicine. The physician also prescribed acupuncture. He’ll recover—it’s just that their journey will be delayed a few days.”
In truth, she didn’t have much confidence in that. She was merely repeating what Young Master Huan had said to comfort the Madam.
But how could Madam Yin feel at ease? Her brows were knit tightly with anxiety.
What kind of skilled physicians could a place like Linqing possibly have?
Even if they’d prescribed medicine, who could say whether it was the right remedy?
A stroke was not something that could be delayed. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the outcome.
Without hesitation, Madam Yin made a swift decision. Her tone was calm but resolute: “Both Jishi Hall and Li’s Medical Clinic here in the capital have elderly physicians experienced in treating stroke. Zhao Momo, fetch the marquisate’s visiting card. It’s best we invite one of those physicians to travel to Linqing and examine my father in person.”
“Have the carriage prepared—I’ll go as well.”
Everyone in the room—Nanny Liao, Zhao Momo, and the rest of the attendants—was stunned.
Zhao Momo stammered, “…Madam, you’re going too?”
Madam Yin was the official matriarch of the entire household. If she left, who would manage such a large and complex estate?
“Of course I’m going,” Madam Yin said without a moment’s pause.
Her expression was firm, unwavering, like stone that no force could shake.
She had always hoped to fulfill her filial duties by staying close to her parents. But having married far from home, she had left them behind for over a decade. All these years, they had borne their loneliness without complaint.
And now that her father had fallen gravely ill—how could she just sit here and wait?
“…” Zhao Momo’s heart twisted. Though she didn’t entirely agree with Madam Yin’s decision, she could no longer bring herself to argue.
She had been Madam Yin’s wet nurse, raising her from infancy. No one knew her temperament better. The Madam had always been tenacious—unyielding in hardship, steady in a storm. Years ago, when she married into the marquisate alone and was treated with cold indifference, she had borne it all in silence. And in time, she earned her place, through strength and sheer resolve.
After receiving the order, Yingluo rushed out anxiously to arrange the carriage. Two maids hurried into the inner chambers to pack belongings, while another matron was sent off in haste to Ronghe Hall to inform the Old madam Marchioness.
The once-tranquil main courtyard suddenly bustled with activity.
Seeing how Zhao Momo was busy running around nonstop, Xiao Yanfei suddenly turned to ask Madam Yin, “Mother, do any of the pharmacies or medical halls in the capital stock Angong Niuhuang Pills?”
Angong Niuhuang Pills were known for their miraculous effects in treating strokes—especially the older formulations that included real rhino horn. In critical moments, such pills could even bring someone back from the brink of death.
Modern versions used water buffalo horn instead, which greatly reduced their effectiveness.
“Angong Niuhuang Pills?” Madam Yin echoed in confusion, turning instinctively to Zhao Momo.
“…” Zhao Momo shook her head.
She had never heard of such a medicine.
Xiao Yanfei paused, catching the answer from their expressions.
Could it be this remedy doesn’t exist yet in this time?
So she quickly added, “I’ve been studying some medical texts recently and came across this pill mentioned as a miraculous treatment for stroke.”
Madam Yin immediately instructed Zhao Momo, who had just returned with the visiting card, “When you go to the medical hall to invite the physician, ask them if they carry this Angong Niuhuang Pill as well.”
Zhao Momo responded quickly and rushed off again.
Xiao Yanfei also quietly stepped forward to help Madam Yin pack.
Anxious to leave, Madam Yin instructed the maids to prepare only a few sets of travel clothes. With just one trunk filled, she was already urging the servants to get ready to depart.
But as they reached the courtyard gate, they saw Wang Momo from Ronghe Hall striding over quickly to block their path.
“Madam,” Wang Momo curtseyed politely before speaking in a formal, measured tone. “I’m here on the Old Madam’s orders to deliver a message: You are the matriarch of this household. How can you just leave on a whim?”
“Madam, please don’t be reckless.”
She paused, then raised her voice sharply, “The old madam said, if you insist on going, then don’t bother coming back!”
The air turned tense in an instant.
Madam Yin’s lips curled into a cold smile, her gaze as sharp as a blade.
She knew exactly why the Old Madam was acting this way—still holding a grudge over that one thousand taels she’d secured as a dowry supplement for Xiao Yanfei.
Facing Wang Momo’s insincere, overly sweet expression, Madam Yin snapped icily, “You can tell the old madam that I married into this household—I wasn’t pledged here as collateral.”
“If the Old madam finds my presence so offensive, she’s welcome to return my dowry. We’ll part ways cleanly.”
“Does she really think I’m clinging to the title of Marchioness?”
Each word rang out clearly and forcefully—Madam Yin’s voice firm and unyielding, leaving no room for negotiation.
Wow! Xiao Yanfei was stirred, her heart surging with emotion.
She remembered that back then, the old Marquis had spent over a million taels of silver just to retain the family’s noble title. Later, Madam Yin, the daughter of a merchant, had been rescued by the Marquis after falling into the water in full view of the public, and was forced to marry into the family, becoming the Marchioness.
And now, even though the Marquis of Wu’an’s household still appeared as prosperous and refined as any other noble residence in their clothing and lifestyle, had things deteriorated to the point that they were patching up household finances with the Marchioness’s dowry?
“Mother!”
Xiao Luanfei had just rushed over and happened to hear Madam Yin’s words. Her expression shifted, and she hurried forward in three quick steps to take Madam Yin’s arm affectionately, gently coaxing, “What’s going on? Please, don’t get upset.”
“…” Wang Momo’s eyes widened in shock.
She had merely come under the Old madam’s orders to make things difficult for the Madam. The idea was simple—have her apologize at Ronghe Hall, plead for forgiveness, and perhaps return the one thousand taels of silver to appease the Old madam’s anger.
But if this ended with Madam Yin threatening to break ties with the Marquis’s household entirely, that would be far beyond what Wang Momo could handle!
Her eyes flickered nervously. She quickly lowered her posture and softened her tone, saying, “Madam, the Old madam is only worried that things will fall into disorder without you around. It’s not meant to go this far.”
Madam Yin gave her a cold smile, clearly unwilling to play along with her pretense.
“Luan’er,” Madam Yin turned to her daughter, her voice slightly hoarse. “Your grandfather has had a stroke. I’ll be leaving for a few days to visit Linqing City.”
With that, she didn’t wait for Luanfei’s response and walked straight past Wang Momo without hesitation.
Xiao Yanfei followed right after without a word.
Behind them, Nanny Liao glanced over at Xiao Luanfei, her gaze lingering on the girl’s delicate features.
So this is the actual eldest young lady.
Xiao Luanfei paid her no mind, not sparing her even a second glance. She turned back to Wang Momo and said gently, “Please don’t take offense, Momo.”
“My mother’s just anxious about Grandfather’s illness and spoke in anger. She didn’t mean to be disrespectful to Grandmother. Please tell her not to upset herself over this.”
Xiao Luanfei knit her brows slightly, clearly displeased. She felt her mother had overreacted—how could she so easily threaten to “sever ties” with the household?
Wang Momo cleared her throat awkwardly. “I understand, Eldest Miss.”
“I’ll speak to Grandmother myself later,” Xiao Luanfei added, and then turned around—only to see that her mother and the others had already disappeared beyond the covered corridor in the distance.
“Mother!” she called, growing anxious, lifting her skirts and hurrying to catch up.
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